MANILA, Philippines – Progressive lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc slammed the House leadership and committee on appropriations chairperson Karlo Nograles for feuding over the "pork barrel" in the proposed P3.757-trillion budget for 2019. "The Makabayan bloc denounced the ongoing fight over the P55-billion pork barrel between the Duterte and Arroyo ........»»

Lawmakers aligned with the Makabayan bloc are convinced that President Rodrigo Duterte has already forgotten his campaign promise of ending contractualization and the "end-of-contract" labor policy. "The recent pronouncement of Malacaang only confirms our previous position na matagal nang inabandona at tinalikuran ni Pangulong Duterte ang kanyang pangako na tapusin ang endo," Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao said in a press briefing held on Thursday afternoon. Casilao said that Duterte's decision to leave the removal of endo to Congress would only make conditions worse for employees both in the public and private...Keep on reading: Makabayan bloc deplores forgotten promise on endo.....»»

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the seven-member Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives yesterday denied being communist “legal fronts.”.....»»

The Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives joined other lawmakers in urging President Rodrigo Duterte to fire Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno over alleged anomalous insertions and allocations in the…READ The post Makabayan bloc joins calls to sack Diokno appeared first on The Manila Times Online......»»

Led by a supermajority dominated by administration allies, the House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to pass a resolution to amend the 1987 Constitution. In a session presided over by Deputy Speaker and Sorsogon Rep. Evelina Escudero, a total of 224 lawmakers voted in favor of Resolution of Both Houses No. 15, just five votes more than the required 219, or three-fourths of the total House membership of 292 required to amend the Charter. Hasty Twenty-two congressmen, mostly belonging to opposition groups like the leftist Makabayan bloc, the so-called Magnificent 7 and several belonging to the recognized minority group led by the House Minority Leader, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suare...Keep on reading: House approves charter change.....»»

MANILA, Philippines – Progressive lawmakers are mulling filing a complaint with the Ombudsman against Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Carlito Galvez Jr for accusing Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Representative France Castro of being a communist. “We will file a case sa Ombudsman for the military. ........»»

MANILA, Philippines – Leftist lawmakers on Thursday, November 29, denounced what they called the "illegal" arrest of member ACT Teachers Representative France Castro, former Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo, and more than 70 others in Davao del Norte. In a statement on Thursday, the progressive Makabayan bloc said ........»»

The Duterte administration has the obligation to fully disclose the government's agreements with China for a joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), progressive lawmakers from the House Makabayan bloc asserted Thursday. ACTS Teachers Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro, Gabriela Rep. Emmie de Jesus, and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago called for a "full transparency" on the 29 agreements. President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of said deals during the latter's two-day visit in the Philippines on Monday to Tuesday. READ:PH, China sign MOU on oil and gas development, 28 other deals "...Keep on reading: House Makabayan bloc demands full transparency on PH-China deal.....»»

MANILA, Philippines – Progressive lawmakers in the Makabayan bloc filed a bill to declare January 26 as the anniversary of the First Quarter Storm. The following legislators filed House Bill (HB) No. 8271 on Thursday, September 20, the eve of the 46th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law ........»»

MANILA, Philippines – Progressive lawmakers in the Makabayan bloc want the House of Representatives to investigate the rice shortage in Zamboanga City that led to a state of calamity. The following lawmakers filed House Resolution (HR) No. 2108 on Wednesday, August 29: ACT Teachers Representatives Antonio Tinio and ........»»

Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc on Wednesday called for an overhaul of the proposed 2019 national budget, which they rejected over apparent cuts on funds for social services. "We reject the budget that was submitted by the President to this house," ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio said during a press briefing. "We call for an overhaul, and for an increase in the specific sectors and departments," he added. According to Tinio, their decision was based on cuts on government's budget for education, health, and housing. "We reject it because of the huge cuts in basic social services, sa education, health, housing, at iba pa, sa kawalan ng disenteng sweldo para sa k...Keep on reading: Makabayan bloc wants overhaul of 2019 proposed budget.....»»

MANILA, Philippines – Liberal Party (LP) lawmakers laying claim over the House of Representatives' minority teamed up with the left-leaning legislators from the Makabayan bloc in a bid to increase their numbers. On Monday, July 30, Marikina 2nd District Representative Miro Quimbo wrote to ........»»

Makabayan opposition members of the House of Representatives have officially joined the Liberal Party-led minority group at the chamber. LP member Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo wrote a letter to Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday, formally stating their intent to organize as the minority group. A total 22 lawmakers, including previously independent Makabayan members, are already members of the bloc. /vvp ...Keep on reading: House Makabayan members join Liberal Party-led minority bloc.....»»

Bayan Muna party-list Chairman Neri Colmenares has confirmed that a warrant of arrest has been issued against four former Makabayan bloc representatives over murder charges filed in 2004. "Yes may warrant na lumabas, may presscon mamaya sila Satur mamayang 1 p.m. to condemn it," Colmenares said in a phone interview withinquirer.neton Friday. (Yes, a warrant came out. Satur and company will hold a presscon at 1 p.m. today.) According to Colmenares, the warrant was for the arrest of former Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casio (Bayan Muna), National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Liza Maza (Gabriela), and former Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Ra...Keep on reading: Colmenares confirms warrant vs former Makabayan lawmakers.....»»

MANILA, Philippines – Progressive lawmakers forming the Makabayan bloc opposed the speakership of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, calling her a plunderer and murderer. Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate said Filipinos were the “losers” after lawmakers ousted Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez as Speaker and replaced him with ........»»

Progressive lawmakers from the House Makabayan bloc condemned Friday the decision of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region III declaring the striking workers from the Nagkakaisang Ma.....»»

MANILA, Philippines – Two lawmakers from the progressive Makabayan bloc warned that the proposed anti-terrorism bill was designed to "normalize" martial law in the country and "desensitize" Filipinos to bloodshed and killings. On Monday, June 25, Kabataan Representative Sarah Elago and Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao expressed opposition to the ........»»